23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)

Community Word:
True disciples bear the character of Jesus.

Theme:
We bear the character of Jesus when we let God’s counsel guide our action.

Promise:
“The Lord our God…prosper(s) the work of our hands.”(Ps90:17b)

Reflection:
Despite man’s great advancements in science and technology, the more important things in life cannot be answered by such achievements.  On one hand, we are capable of amazing achievements, such as wonderful inventions and discoveries which improve communications, travel and medicine.  On the other hand, we are practically helpless on many things beyond our control, such as predicting earthquakes or when a heart attack will happen to a person.  Moreover, science and technology do not show us how to be better persons, how to love and be happy, or tell us anything about life after death!

As people of faith, we do not worry about things that we do not know.  Accepting our limitations, we trust that God will reveal to us what we need to know and the discernment to act on it.  God speaks to us through the inspired words of the Holy Scriptures.  The book of Wisdom tells us – “scarce do we guess things on earth, and what is within our grasp, we find with difficulty, but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?”(Wis 9:16).  It is only by God’s wisdom that we may know what is beyond our human knowledge and understanding.  God sends His Spirit to give us enlightenment and make our paths straight.  So, we humbly ask the Lord: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart,” (Ps 90:12).

We know that Jesus has the words of eternal life, but His words can also be challenging and disturbing.  Jesus’ words give us life but at the same time He wants us to die to our human nature.  In the gospel of Luke (c14, v25-33), Jesus straightforwardly tells the us that anyone who wants to be His disciple will have to pay a high price – “If anyone comes to me without turning his back on his father and mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and sisters, even his very self, he cannot be my follower,”(Lk 14:26). Indeed, this is not a message we would like to hear; we would rather live a life of comfort.  The teaching of Jesus is a message of salvation and calls us to a radical renunciation for the sake of the Kingdom.  Jesus calls us to dedicate ourselves to Him alone, above anyone or anything else.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies:  “We should realize that the Lord is not telling us to hate those whom we must love. After all, He taught us to love even our enemies. Our absolute priority must be to love and follow Him.  We cannot allow anything to get in the way of our fidelity to the will of God. Christ is the center of all Christian life. The bond with Him takes precedence over all other bonds, familial or social” (CCC 1618).

We cannot be blind followers either.  So the Lord continues to guide our actions as we serve Him as Disciples of Christ.  When it comes to making a choice for the Kingdom of God, nothing can get in the way.  Jesus emphasizes very strongly that choosing to be a disciple means that everything else – family, money, our own life – must come second.  He wants us to know what we are committing ourselves to and what cost it entails.  We are committing to a new life and it will cost the death of our old life.  And to sustain a true Christian life, we must be prepared, just like a strong foundation of a tower, and be able to finish the work that Christ has started in us by our spiritual renewal.  We must be ready to fight for Christ and denounce everything that would hinder us from doing so.  This week, we are assured by God’s promise: “The Lord our God…prosper(s) the work of our hands,”(Ps90:17b).

Prayer:
Lord God, You alone know the plans for my life.  I have committed to be a true disciple of You Son, Jesus Christ, after I received the gift of a spiritual renewal.  Help me to renounce anything that prevents me from loving You alone.  Grant me the grace to seek only the True Treasure and lead me to Your promise of everlasting life.  Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.Presently, what are the things in my life that hinders me from being faithful and obedient to God’s directions?

2.Knowing that being a Christian requires sacrifices, in what way will I be able to commit to the Lord as His disciple in community when called to do so?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
September 4, 2016 (Sun) – Wis 9:13-18/Ps 90:3-4,5-6,12-13,14-17/Phl9-10,12-17/Lk 14:25-33
September 5, 2016 (Mon) – 1Cor 5:1-8/Ps 5:5-6,12/Lk 6:6-11
September 6, 2016 (Tue) – 1Cor 6:1-11/Ps 149:1-6,9/Lk 6:12-19
September 7, 2016 (Wed) – 1Cor 7:25-31/Ps 45:11,12,14-17/Lk 6:20-26
September 8, 2016 (Thu) – Mi 5:1-4/Ps 13|:6,6/Mt 1:1-16,18-23
September 9, 2016 (Fri) – 1Cor 9:16-19,22-27/Ps 84:3-6,12/Lk 6:39-42
September 10, 2016 (Sat) – 1Cor 10:14-22/Ps 116:12,13,17,18/Lk 6:43-49

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

WSC Reflection 04 Septembe r2016 Final